Electromagnetic fluid separation and combination

ABSTRACT

Electromagnetic processing of fluid materials is disclosed. Separation of one or more ionic components of a fluid, and combination of one or more ionic components in a fluid, are discussed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/269,991, filed 7 Feb. 2019 by Anthony J. Orlerand entitled “ELECTROMAGNETIC FLUID SEPARATION AND COMBINATION”, andalso claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/627,668, filed 7 Feb. 2018 by Anthony J. Orlerand entitled “ELECTROMAGNETIC FLUID SEPARATION AND COMBINATION”, whichapplication is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to fluid processing,and more specifically electromagnetic fluid separation and combination.

Background

Fluid processing is employed in many fields. Desalination, chemicalprocessing, and wastewater treatment, geothermal power generation,oilfield production, etc., all employ fluid processing to some degree.Most fluid processing is done either mechanically or chemically.Chemical fluid processing may be done by adding other chemicals to thefluid to precipitate out dissolved solids in the fluid, change theacidity/alkalinity (also known as “pH”) of the fluid, etc., to remove oradd constituents to the fluid as needed to produce a desired fluidoutput and/or solid output. Mechanical fluid processing may be done byagitating the fluid, heating or cooling the fluid, filtering the fluid,etc.

Chemical and/or mechanical fluid processing, however, requires the fluidprocessor to expend money for additives, power to move the fluid throughthe processing plant and/or agitate the fluid, provide storage and/orother tanks for the fluid to be processed in, etc. Such expenditures addto the cost of production, costs of constructing and/or maintaining theprocessing plant, etc., which may make it financially unfeasible forsome fluids to be processed.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure comprise electromagnetic processing offluids.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a fluid is exposed to anelectromagnetic field which may assist in separating some ions presentin the fluid from other ions present in the fluid. In another aspect ofthe present disclosure, a fluid may be exposed to an electromagneticfield which may concentrate ions in a portion of the overall volume ofthe fluid. The concentrated portion may then be separated from theremaining fluid.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a fluid control device mayinclude an electromagnetic field generating device, externally coupledto a first conduit, in which the electromagnetic field generating devicecreates an electromagnetic field within the first conduit such that ionswithin a fluid in the outer pipe are affected by the electromagneticfield.

In such an aspect of the present disclosure, the fluid control devicemay further include a separation device, coupled to the first conduit,in which the electromagnetic field moves the ions in the fluid flowingin the first conduit toward the separation device. The fluid controldevice may also optionally include the separation device being coupledto the outer conduit such that the electromagnetic field concentratesthe ions in the fluid at an entrance of the separation device. The fluidcontrol device may include an inner conduit as the separation device.The fluid control device of claim 4 may employ a coiled wire as theelectromagnetic field generating device, such that the coiled wire iscoiled around an outside of the first conduit.

The fluid control device may include the coiled wire being electricallyinsulated from the first conduit, and the entrance of the separationdevice may encompass an axial center of the coiled wire and/or belocated between a first turn of the coiled wire that is coiled aroundthe outside of the first conduit and a last turn of the coiled wire thatis coiled around the outside of the first conduit.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the fluid control devicemay include a capacitive device coupled around the outside of the firstconduit as the electromagnetic field generating device. In such anaspect, the capacitive device may be electrically insulated from thefirst conduit, and the entrance of the separation device may encompassesan axial center of the capacitive device. The fluid control device mayalso include the feature of the entrance of the separation device beinglocated between a first plate of the capacitive device that is coupledaround the outside of the first conduit and a second plate of thecapacitive device that is coupled around the outside of the firstconduit.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for selectivelymoving ions in a fluid may include flowing the fluid in a first conduit,exposing the fluid flowing in the first conduit to an electromagneticfield, wherein the electromagnetic field is generated external to thefirst conduit, adjusting the electromagnetic field to selectively affectat least one ion in the fluid flowing in the first conduit, and dividingthe first conduit into at least a first portion and a second portion, inwhich the electromagnetic field affects the at least one ion such thatthe at least one ion flows into a desired one of the first portion andthe second portion.

This has outlined, rather broadly, the features and technical advantagesof the present disclosure in order that the detailed description thatfollows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages ofthe disclosure will be described below. It should be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that this disclosure may be readily utilized asa basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out thesame purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized bythose skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the teachings of the disclosure as set forth in the appendedclaims. The novel features, which are believed to be characteristic ofthe disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further purposes and advantages, will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, thateach of the figures is provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription only and is not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, referenceis now made to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram in accordance with an aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a concentration stage in accordance with an aspect ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a binary ionic separation stage in accordance with anaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a group separation stage in accordance with an aspectof the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an elemental separation stage in accordance with anaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates another elemental separation stage in accordance withan aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a separation stage in accordancewith an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a separation stage in accordancewith an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates an electromagnetic funnel in accordance with anaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram in accordance with an aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram in accordance with an aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates a compound combiner in accordance with an aspect ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates an electromagnetic recirculator in accordance withan aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of a hardware environment inaccordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of an electromagnetic fluid separationdevice in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of an electromagnetic fluid separationdevice in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below, in connection with theappended drawings, is intended as a description of variousconfigurations and is not intended to represent the only configurationsin which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detaileddescription includes specific details for the purpose of providing athorough understanding of the various concepts. It will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, however, that these concepts may be practicedwithout these specific details. In some instances, well-known structuresand components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoidobscuring such concepts. As described herein, the use of the term“and/or” is intended to represent an “inclusive OR”, and the use of theterm “or” is intended to represent an “exclusive OR”.

Overview

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a fluid is exposed to anelectromagnetic field which may assist in separating some ions presentin the fluid from other ions present in the fluid. In another aspect ofthe present disclosure, a fluid may be exposed to an electromagneticfield which may concentrate ions in a portion of the overall volume ofthe fluid. The concentrated portion may then be separated from theremaining fluid.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram in accordance with an aspect of thepresent disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, incoming fluid 102 may be passed through optionalfiltration stage 104. Incoming fluid 102 may comprise constituents (alsoreferred to as “ionic components” and/or “ionic particles” herein)and/or other particles randomly dispersed throughout the incoming fluid102 volume. Filtration stage 104 removes particles that are larger thana filter pore size, e.g., 1 micron, etc., which may assist system 100 inperforming the functions and/or methods described herein.

The output from filtration stage 104, namely, filtered fluid 106, maythen be passed through a concentration stage 108. Concentration stage108 may concentrate the constituents (e.g., ionic components and/orother particles present in filtered fluid 106, etc.) into a concentratedfluid 110, which has a volume that may only be a portion of the volumeof filtered fluid 106. The remaining fluid 112 of filtered fluid 106 maybe diverted away from the next portion of system 100. Remaining fluid112 may be recycled into concentration stage 108 if desired viarecycling path 114.

The concentrated fluid 110, having only a portion of the volume ofincoming fluid 102/filtered fluid 106, is easier to process than theentire volume of incoming fluid 102/filtered fluid 106. For example, andnot by way of limitation, incoming fluid 102 may be entering system 100at 6000 gallons per minute (gpm), with concentrations of variouselements/ions/particles in the parts per million (ppm) or parts perbillion (ppb) ranges. By concentrating the various constituents in thevolume of incoming fluid 102/filtered fluid 106 into a portion of the6000 gallons per minute, e.g., 600 gallons per minute, 60 gallons perminute, etc., the processing of the various elements/ions/particles insystem 100, or in any system, may be simpler, more efficient, lessexpensive, and/or may have other advantages.

Concentration of incoming fluid 102 into concentrated fluid 110 maycause some of the constituents dissolved in concentrated fluid 110 to bepresent in concentrations above their saturation points in the smallervolume of concentrated fluid 110. As such, determination of thetemperature, pressure, solvent, and/or solute characteristics and/orconcentrations may be used to determine how much concentration ofincoming fluid 102 into concentrated fluid 110 may be performed withoutdeleterious effect on system 100 and/or precipitation of constituentsduring concentration of the constituents from incoming fluid 102 toconcentrated fluid 110. For some constituents in fluid 102, an initialseparation of one or more constituents may be performed prior toconcentration, which is discussed with respect to FIG. 10.

Concentrated fluid 110 may then be passed to a binary ionic separationstage 116. Binary ionic separation stage 116 separates positive ions inconcentrated fluid 110 from negative ions in concentrated fluid 110.Positive ions, which are still dissolved in concentrated fluid 110, arethen passed from concentration stage 116 as fluid 118, and negativeions, which are still dissolved in concentrated fluid 110, are thenpassed from concentration stage 116 as fluid 120.

Each of fluids 118 and 120 comprise a solvent fluid and various ionsstill dissolved in solution; fluid 118 comprises one polarity (e.g.,positive) of ions, while fluid 120 comprises the other polarity (e.g.,negative) of ions. However, fluid 118 may comprise ions within variousperiodic groups, e.g., group 1, group 2, etc. (i.e., columns) within theperiodic table. As such, ions having a plus 1 (+1) charge, e.g.,lithium, potassium, sodium, etc., (e.g., elements with a single electronin their outer orbital shell) may be mixed with ions having a +2 charge,e.g., magnesium, calcium, etc., and ions having +3, +4, +5 charges, etc.Similarly, fluid 120 may comprise ions of various periodic groups wherethe ions present each have a negative charge of various intensity, e.g.,−1, −2, −3, etc. Group separation sections 122 and 124 separate the ionsinto groups, such that for fluid 118, the +1 ions are separated from theother positive ions in fluid 118, the +2 ions are separated from theother positive ions in fluid 118, etc. Similarly, for fluid 120, the −1ions are separated from the other negative ions in fluid 120, the −2ions are separated from the other negative ions in fluid 120, etc. Eachgroup (+1, −1, etc.), each of which may comprise one or more types ofionic components, is output from group separation sections 122 and 124as separate outputs, 126A-126N and 128A-128N respectively.

Each of the outputs 126 and 128 groups (i.e., +1, −1, +2, −2, etc.) maybe individually sent to an element separation section 130A-130N and132A-132N respectively. Each section 130 and 132 divides the group(e.g., the +1 ions) into individual elements (e.g., lithium frompotassium, etc.) as desired within system 100, or can divide each groupinto separate groups of ions based on characteristics of the elementspresent in outputs 126 and/or 128.

Geothermal Fluid Processing

As an example, and not by way of limitation, geothermal fluids may beemployed as the incoming fluid 102 in an aspect of the presentdisclosure. Geothermal fluids may be delivered to system 100 attemperatures between 195° C. and 250° C., and at pressures between 150pound-force per square inch gauge (psig) and 350 psig. Psig, also knownas “gauge pressure,” is measured as a pressure relative to ambientatmospheric pressure instead of measuring the fluid pressure as anabsolute pressure.

The potential of hydrogen, (i.e., pH) of geothermal fluids (also knownas geothermal brines) is typically acidic, and is often between thevalues of 5 and 6.5 (where a value of 7 is considered neutral).Geothermal brines may contain a variety of dissolved solids, includinglithium, sodium, potassium, iron, copper, rubidium, barium, magnesium,zinc, strontium, tin, aluminum, chlorine, calcium, manganese, antimony,lead, and/or trace amounts of other materials. Many of the more valuablesolids are present in the geothermal brine in amounts of less than 1 toapproximately 200 parts per million (ppm), which means that largevolumes of geothermal brine must be processed to gather enough of agiven material to make the extraction process financially feasible.

Many efforts have been made to extract these and other minerals fromgeothermal brines since at least the early 1960's, as these mineralshave applications in many different fields. However, these efforts haveemployed chemical and/or mechanical processing, which has often beenrather costly and at times inefficient. Some approaches have usedchemical processing of the geothermal brines through selectiveprecipitation of various elements using precipitants such as calciumoxide (lime), which precipitates hydroxides dissolved in the geothermalbrine. Other chemical approaches bubble (“sparge”) air or other gassesthrough the brine to create oxide that are then precipitated andfiltered from the brine liquid. Other processes may use selectiveabsorption (or adsorption) of various materials, e.g., lithium, toextract materials from the brine. These processes require large tanksand additional materials (lime, chemical additives, fluid pumps, airpumps, precise timing of fluid flow, heat, heat-resistant materials,large tanks for storage and processing, etc.) to process the geothermalbrine in order to extract the materials desired.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, when a geothermal brine isemployed as an incoming fluid 102, some materials, e.g., silica (silicondioxide) may be removed from the geothermal brine in filtration stage104 and/or may be removed by separating the silicon ions from the oxygenions prior to these ionic components having the ability to cool andprecipitate (by passing the incoming fluid 102 through a binary ionicseparation stage 116 and/or group separation stage 112 before thegeothermal brine cools). If a concentration stage 108 is used as aninitial stage of system 100, rather than processing the 6000 gallons perminute (gpm) of the output of a geothermal wellhead, in an aspect of thepresent disclosure concentration stage 108 can take the 6000 gpm silicafiltered brine 106 and concentrate the ionic materials into a smallervolume, e.g., 600 gpm, 60 gpm, etc. In another aspect of the presentdisclosure, filtration stage 104 can be eliminated, and incoming fluid102 can be directed into concentration stage 108 immediately, becauseconcentration stage 108 will only concentrate ionic materials, andsilicon dioxide is not ionic. Silicon dioxide contains covalent electronbonds, and as such would not be attracted or repelled by theconcentration stage 108. Although a small amount of silicon dioxide maybe present in concentrated fluid 110, such amounts may not bedetrimental to system 100 during further processing of concentratedfluid 110. In other aspects of the present disclosure, binary ionicseparation stage 116 and/or group separation stage 122 may be used asthe initial stage of system 100 to separate the silicon from the oxygenpresent in incoming fluid 102 to reduce the ability of the silicon toprecipitate during subsequent processing and/or fluid flow in system 100(or any other system).

In another aspect of the present disclosure, filtration stage 104 may beomitted and concentration stage 106 may be exposed directly to incomingfluid 102. Because silicon dioxide is not ionic, or, at least, is not asionic as other elements and compounds that may be present in incomingfluid 102, concentration stage 106 will not have as much of an effect onthe silicon dioxide dissolved in incoming fluid as concentration stage106 will have on the ionic compounds and/or other elements present inincoming fluid 102. Thus, concentrated fluid 110 will have a largerconcentration of the ionic compounds, and either a similar or smallerconcentration of silicon dioxide, as the incoming fluid 102. Themajority of the silicon dioxide can then be filtered as part of fluid112 and/or 114, and a smaller filter and/or processing stage can be usedafter concentration stage to filter and/or otherwise remove the silicondioxide present in concentration fluid 110, rather than rather thanproviding a large filter for the remainder of system 100 afterconcentration stage 108, to process the remaining silicon dioxide inconcentrated fluid 110.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the volume reduction ofconcentrated fluid 110 versus the volume of incoming fluid 102, evenwithout the remaining portions of system 100, may reduce the size of anychemical processing plant needed to extract minerals from the geothermalbrine. For example, and not by way of limitation, if concentration stage108 can reduce the volume of fluid to be processed from 6000 gpm to 600gpm, the size of storage tanks, facilities, etc., also are reducedbecause the resultant plant is only processing one-tenth of the volumeof fluid. Further, because concentration stage 108 has captured all ornearly all of the ionic materials present in the entire 6000 gpm outputin a much smaller volume (e.g., 600 gpm, 60 gpm, etc.), the finalproduct of the plant remains essentially constant. As such, the revenuegenerated by the smaller plant remains essentially the same as that ofthe full scale plant, while the cost of building the plant has beensignificantly reduced. This cost reduction may increase the return oninvestment, decrease the operating costs of the facility, and/or otherhave other financially beneficial effects due to the presence ofconcentrating stage 108.

Concentrated fluid 110 may also be passed to binary ionic separationstage 116, which may separate positively charged ions present inconcentrated fluid 110 from negatively charged ions present inconcentrated fluid 110. This separation may reduce the ability of ionsto precipitate out of solution in fluids 118 and 120 respectively, asthe positively charged ions present in fluid 118 will have no negativeions to combine with to form precipitate in fluid 118, and similarly thenegatively charged ions present in fluid 120 will have fewer negativeions to combine with to form precipitate in fluid 120. Binary ionicseparation state 116 may be employed prior to concentration stage 108,which may allow for greater volume reduction in concentration stage 108.

As with concentration stage 108, binary ionic separation stage 116 mayallow for a larger concentration of ions of a certain polarity (i.e.,positive and/or negative) to be present in fluid 118 and/or fluid 120 tobe present in a given volume of fluid 118 and/or fluid 120. For ease ofunderstanding, 1 ppm=1 milligram per liter, and the concentrations inthis disclosure will most often be quoted in ppm.

For example, and not by way of limitation, in water, sodium chloride(NaCl) has a solubility of 358.9 grams/liter (i.e., 358,900 ppm) at 20°C., and a solubility of 389.9 grams/liter (389,900 ppm) at 100° C. Ifthe water (e.g., the fluid) enters system 100 at 100° C., but duringprocessing within system 100 loses heat such that the water cools to 20°C., 31 grams per liter of NaCl will precipitate out of the water withinsystem 100. At 6000 gpm (22,700 liters per minute), 703.7 kilograms (kg)of NaCl per minute will precipitate out of the fluid. The presence of703 kg/min of NaCl, not to mention any other compounds that mayprecipitate during processing within system 100, may cause the conduits,pipes, and/or other fluid pathways to clog and/or have reduced fluidflow.

In chemical and/or mechanical fluid processing, the solids(precipitates) are controlled to occur at certain points within theprocessing system such that the solids may be removed through filtrationand/or mechanical skimming, controlled through temperature and/or pHfluid control, etc. In an aspect of the present disclosure, the sodium(Na+) and chlorine (Cl−) ions, which are dissolved in solution in fluid102 (or fluids 106 and/or 110) are separated such that the Na+ and Cl−ions are less able to “recombine” to form a solid NaCl precipitate.

The binary ionic separation stage 116 separates ions of one polarityinto fluid 118 from ions of the other polarity into fluid 120. Even ifbinary ionic separation stage 116 is only partially successful inseparating ions by polarity, the probability of positive ions combiningwith negative ions in fluids 118 and/or 120 may be reduced. Further,binary ionic separation stage 116 may be performed in multiple passes offluid 110, either in a recursive, parallel, and/or serial manner, suchthat the majority of ions of one polarity (e.g., positive) are in onefluid 118 (or 120), and the majority of ions of the other polarity arein the other fluid 120 (or 118, respectively).

When one polarity of ions is contained, as a majority of dissolvedsolids, in a fluid (for example, fluid 118, although similar argumentscan be made for fluid 120 with the other polarity of ions), theprecipitation of a given ion, e.g., Na+ and/or Cl−, is reduced. Thisreduction of possible precipitation targets (i.e., ions of the otherpolarity) may, effectively, increase the solubility of ions in fluid 118(or fluid 120).

FIG. 2 illustrates a concentration stage in accordance with an aspect ofthe present disclosure.

Inlet conduit 200 of concentration stage 108 receives fluid 102 (and/orfiltered fluid 106, depending on whether filtration stage 104 isincluded in system 100). Internal conduit 202 is contained within inletconduit 200. Electromagnetic funnel 204 is placed along a portion ofinlet conduit 200, such that an electromagnetic field is created atleast in the portion of inlet conduit 200 where electromagnetic funnelis placed.

As shown in FIG. 2, inlet 206 of internal conduit 202 is withinelectromagnetic funnel 204. Although shown as concentric and/or coaxialwith inlet conduit 200, inlet 206 of internal conduit 200 may be placedat other locations within inlet conduit 200 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. Further, although shown as beingsomewhat centralized to electromagnetic funnel 204, internal conduit 202may be placed anywhere within inlet conduit 200 without departing fromthe scope of the present disclosure.

Once fluid 102/106 enters the electromagnetic funnel 204, ions withinfluid 102/106 are affected by the electromagnetic field created byelectromagnetic funnel 204. Depending on the type of electromagneticfield and the direction of the electromagnetic field thatelectromagnetic funnel 204 creates, ions within fluid 102/106 may beelectromagnetically attracted to and/or repelled from certain locationswithin inlet conduit 200. As shown in FIG. 2, as an example and not byway of limitation, electromagnetic funnel 204 may create anelectromagnetic field that moves ions within fluid 102/106 towards theinlet 206 of internal conduit 204. The strength of the electromagneticfield created by electromagnetic funnel 204, and the speed of fluid102/106 flow, and/or other factors such as the ions present in fluid102/106, may determine the amount of electromagnetic force needed in theallotted distance between the beginning of the electromagnetic funnel204 and the inlet 206 to allow at least a portion of the ions in fluid102/106 to be captured within internal conduit 202.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the relative areas of inletconduit 200 and inlet 206 of internal conduit 202 will reduce the amountof fluid (i.e., fluid volume) in internal conduit 202 compared to inletconduit 200. This reduction in fluid volume thus reduces the amount ofconcentrated fluid 110 that will be passed to the next stage of system100 (e.g., binary ionic separation stage 116, or other stages, dependingon the configuration of system 100). However, the use of electromagneticfunnel 204 may increase the concentration of ionic materials that enterinlet 206, and thus may reduce the concentration of ionic materials thatremain within inlet conduit 200, thereby increasing the concentration ofionic materials in fluid 110.

Fluid 208, i.e., the fluid that has passed through electromagneticfunnel 204 but did not enter inlet 206 of internal conduit 202, may nowhave a reduced and/or zero concentration of ionic materials in fluid208. In an aspect of the present disclosure, fluid 208 may flow throughan optional second electromagnetic funnel 210. This may further forceionic materials still present in fluid 208 into inlet 212 of conduit214, and reduce the concentration of ionic materials in fluid 216present in conduit 218.

Although shown as connected to internal conduit 202, conduit 214 may beconnected to other portions of system 100 as desired. For example, andnot by way of limitation, electromagnetic funnel 204 may only providemotive force to positively charged ionic materials in fluid 102/106,while electromagnetic funnel 210 may provide motive force to negativelycharged ionic materials in fluid 208. In such an aspect of the presentdisclosure, electromagnetic funnels 204 and 210 are also separating thepositively charged ionic materials from the negatively charged ionicmaterials, which may be processed separately and/or together as desiredwithin system 100, without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Further, although the electromagnetic field is shown in FIG. 2 as beingsomewhat uniform across conduit 200, the electromagnetic field may bestronger along one part of conduit 200 than another. For example, andnot by way of limitation, a bar magnet could be used to generate amagnetic field along one portion of conduit 200 that would be strongerwhere the bar magnet is close to conduit 200 and weaker across thediameter of conduit 200 without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a binary ionic separation stage in accordance with anaspect of the present disclosure.

Maintaining the fluid 102 flow as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, concentratedfluid 110 flows from concentration stage 106 to binary ionic separationstage 116 via conduit 300. Binary separator 302 applies anelectromagnetic force to fluid 110, which separates ionic particles inconcentrated fluid 110 into at least two different fluids 304 and 306.Within binary separator 302, gore point 308 separates concentrated fluid110 into fluids 304 and 306.

Although shown as concentric and/or coaxial with conduit 300, gore point308 may be placed at other locations within conduit 300 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, althoughshown as being somewhat centralized to binary separator 302, gore point308 may be placed anywhere within conduit 300 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

Once concentrated fluid 110 enters the binary ionic separator 116, ionswithin concentrated fluid 110 are affected by the electromagnetic fieldcreated by binary separator 302. Depending on the type ofelectromagnetic field and the direction of the electromagnetic fieldthat binary separator 302 creates, different polarities of ions withinconcentrated fluid 110 may be electromagnetically attracted to and/orrepelled from certain locations within conduit 300.

As an example and not by way of limitation, binary separator 302 maycreate an electromagnetic field that moves (i.e., provides electromotiveforce to) negatively charged ions (“n-type ions”) 118 withinconcentrated fluid 110 such that the randomly dispersed n-type ions 118are directed towards the outlet 312 of binary ionic separator 116 ratherthan random distribution and/or dispersement of the n-type ions 118between fluids 304 and 306. The strength of the electromagnetic fieldcreated by binary separator 302, and the speed of concentrated fluid 110flow, and/or other factors such as which specific ions are present influid 110, may determine the amount of electromagnetic force needed inthe allotted distance between the beginning of the binary separator 302and the gore point 308 to allow at least a portion of one polarity ofions in concentrated fluid 110 to be directed toward fluid 304 (andoutlet 312) rather than toward fluid 306.

Similarly, binary separator 302 may create an electromagnetic field thatprovides electromotive force to positively charged ions (“p-type ions”)120 within concentrated fluid 110 such that the randomly dispersedp-type ions 120 are directed towards the outlet 316 of binary ionicseparator 116 rather than random distribution and/or dispersement of thep-type ions 120 between fluids 304 and 306. Again, the strength of theelectromagnetic field created by binary ionic separator 302, and thespeed of concentrated fluid 110 flow, and/or other factors such as theions present in fluid 110, may determine the amount of electromagneticforce needed in the allotted distance between the beginning of thebinary ionic separator 302 and the gore point 308 to allow at least aportion of one polarity of ions in concentrated fluid 110 to be directedtoward fluid 306 (and outlet 316) rather than toward fluid 304.

FIG. 4 illustrates a group separation stage in accordance with an aspectof the present disclosure.

Maintaining the fluid 102 flow as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, fluid 118(or fluid 120) flows from binary ionic separation stage 116 to groupseparation stage 122 (or 124) via conduit 400. Group separator 302applies an electromagnetic force to fluid 118, which separates ionicparticles in fluid 118 into at least two different fluids 404 and 406.Within group separator 402, gore point 408 separates fluid 118 intofluids 404 and 406.

Although shown as concentric and/or coaxial with conduit 400, gore point408 may be placed at other locations within conduit 400 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, althoughshown as being somewhat centralized to group separator 402, gore point408 may be placed anywhere within conduit 300 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

Once fluid 114 enters the group separation stage 116, ions within fluid118 are affected by the electromagnetic field created by group separator402. Depending on the type of electromagnetic field and the direction ofthe electromagnetic field that group separator 402 creates, differenttypes of ions within fluid 118 may be electromagnetically attracted toand/or repelled from certain locations within conduit 400.

As an example and not by way of limitation, group separator 402 maycreate an electromagnetic field that moves (i.e., provides electromotiveforce to) some ions (“Group A ions”) 126A (or any other ions 126B-Nand/or 128A-N) within fluid 118 such that the randomly dispersed Group Aions 126A (as an example of the possible Groups of ions in ions 126A-Nand/or 128A-N) are directed towards the outlet 412 of group separationstage 122 rather than random distribution and/or dispersement of theGroup A ions 126A between fluids 404 and 406. The strength of theelectromagnetic field created by group separator 302, and the speed offluid 118 flow, and/or other factors such as which specific ions arepresent in fluid 118, may determine the amount of electromagnetic forceneeded in the allotted distance between the beginning of the groupseparator 402 and the gore point 408 to allow at least a portion of theGroup A ions 126A in fluid 118 to be directed toward fluid 404 (andoutlet 412) rather than toward fluid 406.

Similarly, group separator 402 may create an electromagnetic field thatprovides electromotive force to other ions (“Group B ions”) 414 withinfluid 118 such that the randomly dispersed Group B ions 414 are directedtowards the outlet 416 of group separation stage 122 rather than randomdistribution and/or dispersement of the Group B ions 414 between fluids404 and 406. Again, the strength of the electromagnetic field created bygroup separator 402, and the speed of fluid 118 flow, and/or otherfactors such as the ions present in fluid 118, may determine the amountof electromagnetic force needed in the allotted distance between thebeginning of the group separator 402 and the gore point 408 to allow atleast a portion of the Group B ions 414 in fluid 118 to be directedtoward fluid 406 (and outlet 416) rather than toward fluid 404.

Although referring only to fluid 118, the descriptions and discussionwith respect to FIG. 4 of the present disclosure may also be applied tofluid 120 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, fluid 118 may comprise mostlyn-type ions 118. Since all n-type ions 118 are negatively charged, groupseparator 402 may separate those n-type ions 118 having a −1 charge fromthose n-type ions 118 having a −2 charge, or may separate n-type ions118 having a −1 charge from n-type ions 118 having a charge other than−1. Such a separation may be considered as a separation of ions into“groups” similar to the groups (columns) of the periodic table ofelements.

FIG. 5 illustrates an elemental separation stage in accordance with anaspect of the present disclosure.

Maintaining the fluid 102 flow as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, fluids126A-126N (or fluids 128A-N) flow from group separation stage 122 (or124) to element separation stage 130A-N (or 132A-N) via conduit(s) 500.For ease of description, one fluid 126A will be discussed herein,however, it is to be understood that any of fluids 126A-N and/or 128A-Nmay be substituted without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Elemental discriminator 502 applies an electromagnetic forceto fluid 126A, which separates ionic particles in fluid 126A into atleast two different fluids 504 and 506. Within elemental discriminator502, gore point 508 separates fluid 126A into fluids 504 and 506.

Although shown as concentric and/or coaxial with conduit 500, gore point508 may be placed at other locations within conduit 500 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, althoughshown as being somewhat centralized to elemental discriminator 502, gorepoint 508 may be placed anywhere within conduit 500 without departingfrom the scope of the present disclosure.

Once fluid 126A enters the element separation stage 130A, ions withinfluid 126A are affected by the electromagnetic field created byelemental separator 502. Depending on the type of electromagnetic fieldand the direction of the electromagnetic field that elemental separator502 creates, different types of ions within fluid 126A may beelectromagnetically attracted to and/or repelled from certain locationswithin conduit 500.

As an example and not by way of limitation, elemental separator 502 maycreate an electromagnetic field that moves (i.e., provides electromotiveforce to) some ions (“Element A ions”) 510 within fluid 126A such thatthe randomly dispersed Element A ions 510 are directed towards theoutlet 512 of element separation stage 130A rather than randomdistribution and/or dispersement of the Element A ions 510 betweenfluids 504 and 506. The strength of the electromagnetic field created byelement separator 502, and the speed of fluid 126A flow, and/or otherfactors such as which specific ions are present in fluid 126A-N, maydetermine the amount of electromagnetic force needed in the allotteddistance between the beginning of the element separator 502 and the gorepoint 508 to allow at least a portion of the Element A ions 510 in fluid126A to be directed toward fluid 506 (and outlet 512) rather than towardfluid 504.

Similarly, element separator 502 may create an electromagnetic fieldthat provides electromotive force to other ions (“Element B ions”) 514within fluid 126A such that the randomly dispersed Element B ions 514are directed towards the outlet 516 of group separation stage 130Arather than random distribution and/or dispersement of the Element Bions 514 between fluids 504 and 506. Again, the strength of theelectromagnetic field created by element separator 502, and the speed offluid 126A flow, and/or other factors such as the ions present in fluid126A, may determine the amount of electromagnetic force needed in theallotted distance between the beginning of the element separator 502 andthe gore point 508 to allow at least a portion of the Element B ions 514in fluid 126A to be directed toward fluid 506 (and outlet 516) ratherthan toward fluid 504.

Although referring only to fluid 126A, the descriptions and discussionwith respect to FIG. 5 of the present disclosure may also be applied tofluids 126A-126N and/or fluids 128A-N without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, fluid 126A may comprise mostlyGroup 1 type ions, e.g., those elements in column 1 of the periodictable having one electron in their outer orbital shell, those elementsthat are ionized to a −1 charge, etc. 118. Since all Group 1 type ionsare negatively charged to a −1 ionic state, element separator 502 mayseparate the Group 1 type ions into individual element ions 510 and/or514. For example, and not by way of limitation, fluid 126A may compriselithium, sodium, and potassium, all of which have a −1 ionic state insolution (and are in Group 1 of the periodic table). Element separator502 may apply an electromagnetic field to fluid 126A to separate one ofthese elements, e.g., lithium, from the other elements, e.g., sodium andpotassium, such that the lithium ions present in fluid 126A are directedtoward fluid 504 while the sodium and potassium ions in fluid 126A aredirected toward fluid 506. Such a separation may be considered as aseparation of ions into “elements” similar to the elements in theperiodic table of elements.

FIG. 6 illustrates another elemental separation stage in accordance withan aspect of the present disclosure.

Maintaining the fluid 102 flow as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, fluids126A-126N (or fluids 128A-N) flow from group separation stage 122 (or124) to element separation stage 130A-N (or 132A-N) via conduit(s) 500.For ease of description, one fluid 126A will be discussed herein,however, it is to be understood that any of fluids 126A-N and/or 128A-Nmay be substituted without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Elemental discriminator 502 applies an electromagnetic forceto fluid 126A, which separates ionic particles in fluid 126A into atleast two different fluids 504 and 506. Within elemental discriminator502, gore point 508 separates fluid 126A into fluids 504 and 506.

In FIG. 6, a second gore point 600 is also introduced into conduit 500such that gore points 508 and 600 separate fluid 126A into fluids 504,506, and 602.

Although shown as equidistant, concentric and/or coaxial with conduit500, gore points 508 and 600 may be placed at other locations withinconduit 500 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Further, although shown as being somewhat centralized to elementaldiscriminator 502, gore points 508 and 600 may be placed anywhere withinconduit 500 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Further, gore point 508 may be placed at one distance into elementaldiscriminator 502, and gore point 600 may be placed further intoelemental discriminator 502, a shallower distance (less distance fromthe output end of conduit 500) into elemental discriminator 502, or asimilar distance into elemental discriminator 502 as gore point 508without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Once fluid 126A enters the element separation stage 130A, ions withinfluid 126A are affected by the electromagnetic field created byelemental separator 502. Depending on the type of electromagnetic fieldand the direction of the electromagnetic field that elemental separator502 creates, different types of ions within fluid 126A may beelectromagnetically attracted to and/or repelled from certain locationswithin conduit 500.

As an example and not by way of limitation, elemental separator 502 maycreate an electromagnetic field that moves (i.e., provides electromotiveforce to) some ions (“Element A ions”) 510 within fluid 126A such thatthe randomly dispersed Element A ions 510 are directed towards theoutlet 512 of element separation stage 130A rather than randomdistribution and/or dispersement of the Element A ions 510 betweenfluids 504, 506, and 602. The strength of the electromagnetic fieldcreated by element separator 502, and the speed of fluid 126A flow,and/or other factors such as which specific ions are present in fluid126A-N, may determine the amount of electromagnetic force needed in theallotted distance between the beginning of the element separator 502 andthe gore point 508 to allow at least a portion of the Element A ions 510in fluid 126A to be directed toward fluid 506 (and outlet 512) ratherthan toward fluids 504 and/or 602.

Similarly, element separator 502 may create an electromagnetic fieldthat provides electromotive force to other ions (“Element B ions”) 514within fluid 126A such that the randomly dispersed Element B ions 514are directed towards the outlet 516 of group separation stage 130Arather than random distribution and/or dispersement of the Element Bions 514 between fluids 504, 506, and 602. Again, the strength of theelectromagnetic field created by element separator 502, and the speed offluid 126A flow, and/or other factors such as the ions present in fluid126A, may determine the amount of electromagnetic force needed in theallotted distance between the beginning of the element separator 502 andthe gore point 508 to allow at least a portion of the Element B ions 514in fluid 126A to be directed toward fluid 506 (and outlet 516) ratherthan toward fluids 504 and/or 602.

In FIG. 6, a third “class” of ions may be affected by theelectromagnetic field created by element separator 502 that provideselectromotive force to other ions (“Element C ions”) 604 within fluid126A such that the randomly dispersed Element C ions 604 are directedtowards the outlet 606 of group separation stage 130A, and into fluid602, rather than random distribution and/or dispersement of the ElementC ions 604 between fluids 504, 506, and 602. Again, the strength of theelectromagnetic field created by element separator 502, and the speed offluid 126A flow, and/or other factors such as the ions present in fluid126A, may determine the amount of electromagnetic force needed in theallotted distance between the beginning of the element separator 502 andthe gore points 508 and 600 to allow at least a portion of the Element Cions 604 in fluid 126A to be directed toward fluid 602 (and outlet 606)rather than toward fluids 504 and/or 506.

Although referring only to fluid 126A, the descriptions and discussionwith respect to FIG. 6 of the present disclosure may also be applied tofluids 126A-126N and/or fluids 128A-N without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure. Further, any fluid within system 100 may beused as an input to the elemental discriminator 502 as described withrespect to FIGS. 5 and 6 without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

In an aspect of the present disclosure with respect to FIG. 6, fluid126A may comprise mostly Group 1 type ions, e.g., those elements incolumn 1 of the periodic table having one electron in their outerorbital shell, those elements that are ionized to a −1 charge, etc. 118.Since all Group 1 type ions are negatively charged to a −1 ionic state,element separator 502 may separate the Group 1 type ions into individualelement ions 510 and/or 514. For example, and not by way of limitation,fluid 126A may comprise lithium, sodium, and potassium, all of whichhave a −1 ionic state in solution (and are in Group 1 of the periodictable). Element separator 502 may apply an electromagnetic field tofluid 126A to separate each of these elements, from each other, suchthat e.g., the lithium ions present in fluid 126A are directed towardfluid 504, the sodium ions present in fluid 126A are directed to fluid604, and the potassium ions in fluid 126A are directed toward fluid 506.Such a separation may be considered as a separation of ions into“elements” similar to the elements in the periodic table of elements.

Additional fluid outlets 512, 516, and 606 may be included in elementalseparation stage 130A-N and/or 132A-N, and/or in group separation stages122 and/or 124 without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a separation stage in accordancewith an aspect of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 7, a separation stage 700 (which may be one or more ofgroup separation stages 122 and/or 124, and/or one or more of elementalseparation stages 130A-N and/or 132 A-N) in an aspect of the presentdisclosure may be a capacitive device 702. To simplify the explanationof how separation stage 700 applies electromagnetic forces to fluids insystem 100, a parallel plate capacitor is shown as capacitive device702; however, any device that applies magnetic and/or electric fields tofluids in system 100 without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

A conduit 704, which may be any of the conduits where a fluid is flowingin system 100 as described in the present disclosure, is placed betweenthe positive plate 706 and the negative plate 708 of capacitive device702. When a voltage is applied across the positive plate 706 and thenegative plate 708, an electric field is created between the positiveplate 706 and the negative plate 708. Field lines 710 illustrate thedirection of the electric field between the positive plate 706 and thenegative plate 708.

Equipotential lines 712, shown as dashed lines in FIG. 7, illustratesome of the distances between the positive plate 706 and the negativeplate 708 where the electrical potential is equal between the positiveplate 706 and the negative plate 708. For example, and not by way oflimitation, a 4 volt direct current (VDC) voltage may be applied betweenthe positive plate 706 and the negative plate 708. Each of theequipotential lines 712 shown in FIG. 7 may then represent a change of 1VDC between the positive plate 706 and the negative plate 708. Many moreequipotential lines 712 may exist between the positive plate 706 and thenegative plate 708 without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Further, the equipotential lines 712 may be equally and/orunequally spaced between the positive plate 706 and the negative plate708 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In essence, the fluid in conduit 704 is similar to a dielectric materialin capacitive device 702. Since the fluid has various ionic materials ofvarious charge polarities and values, each of the ionic materials in thefluid of conduit 704 will be affected differently by the electromagneticfield created by capacitive device 702.

Because each element in the periodic table has differentelectropotentials, each element has either a different ionic stateand/or different electronegativity values, the application of anelectromagnetic field, such as that generated by capacitive device 702,will affect each ionic material in the fluid of conduit 704 differently.Those that are more electronegative, or are negatively charged ions(anions) will be attracted to the positive plate 706 and/or repelled bythe negative plate 708; those with less electronegativity, or arepositively charged ions (cations) that may be known, the application ofan electric field by capacitive device. The presence of field lines 710,generated by capacitive device 702, may move the essentiallyrandomly-distributed anions and/or cations in the fluid of conduit 702to a more uniform collection.

In other words, the randomly distributed anions will be attracted to thepositive plate 706, and the randomly distributed cations will beattracted to the negative plate 708. Because the fluid in conduit 704flows in direction 714, which is essentially parallel to the positiveplate 706 and the negative plate 708, the motion of the fluid willcontinue to move the cations and anions along the length 716 ofcapacitive device 702, while the electromagnetic field of capacitivedevice 702 moves the cations and anions perpendicular to the flowdirection 714.

As such, capacitive device 702 may create a larger than randomdistribution of anions near the positive plate 706, and/or a larger thanrandom distribution of cations near the negative plate 708. By placinggore points 718 and/or 720 to reduce the possibility of the newdistribution of cations and anions in flow direction 714, output stream1 722 may comprise a larger percentage of anions than the randomdistribution present in flow 714, and/or output stream 3 724 maycomprise a larger percentage of cations than the random distributionpresent in flow 714. Stream 2 726 may comprise a mixture of cations andanions, or may contain no ations and/or anions at all.

Depending on the strength of the field lines 710, which may be increasedand/or decreased by changing the voltage potentials supplied to thepositive plate 706 and the negative plate 708 of capacitive device 702,the perpendicular force applied to the cations and anions will change.The perpendicular force, as a ratio and/or comparison to the velocity ofthe speed of the fluid in flow direction 714, may then determine, atleast in part, where gore points 718 and/or 720 are placed to separatethe ions in the fluid of conduit 704. Depending on what ions are presentin the fluid of conduit 704, in an aspect of the present disclosure,different amounts of electropotential (voltage) may be applied topositive plate 706 and/or negative plate 708, or various difference ofelectropotential may be applied between positive plate 706 and/ornegative plate 708, to more effectively separate the cations and/oranions present in the fluid of conduit 704 into stream 1 722, stream 2724, and/or stream 3 726. As an example, negative plate 708 may beconnected to ground (0 VDC) for separation of some ions, but may beconnected to a positive or negative voltage for other ions, where thedifference in potential between positive plate 706 and negative plate708 may be more effective in ionic separation of the fluid in conduit704.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a separation stage in accordancewith an aspect of the present disclosure.

Separation stage 800, which may be one or more of group separationstages 122 and/or 124, and/or one or more of elemental separation stages130A-N and/or 132 A-N) in an aspect of the present disclosure may be apositively charged source 802 spaced apart from a negatively chargedsource 804. Positively charged source 802 and negatively charged source804 may be wires (and thus the view of FIG. 8 is a cross-sectionalview), point sources, spheres, or other sources of positive and negativecharge. Conduit 806 and internal conduit 808 are shown as being inbetween positively charged source 802 and negatively charged source 804.

In the configuration of FIG. 8, field lines 810 and equipotential lines812 (in dashed lines for clarity) are substantially distributed asshown. Field lines 810 and equipotential lines 812 are essentiallyperpendicular to each other within the field. Thus, internal conduit 808intersects only the positive equipotential lines 812 and the morepositive portion of field lines 810 created by separation stage 800.Anions, i.e., negatively charged ions in a fluid flowing in conduit 806(i.e., either into or out of the page as shown in FIG. 8), will beattracted to the positively charged source 802 and/or repelled by thenegatively charged source 804. When internal conduit 808 begins withinthe field lines 810 (as described with respect to FIGS. 3-7, anions willbe contained within internal conduit 808 and separated from cationsand/or the remainder of the fluid flowing in conduit 806. Depending onthe relative diameters of conduit 806 and/or internal conduit 808,separation stage 800 may reduce the amount of fluid flowing throughinternal conduit 808, thus reducing the size of processing equipment inany associated system 100 for separation stage 800.

As an example, and not by way of limitation, in an aspect of the presentdisclosure, a separation stage 700 and/or 800 may be used to desalinatefluids, e.g., water. Salt water is a combination of dissolved sodiumchloride, and in seawater and/or ocean water, up to five percent (5%) ofthe fluid may be dissolved ions of sodium and chlorine. A separationstage 800 may be used to separate the sweater anions, e.g., chlorineions, from the seawater fluid flowing in conduit 806 and contain thechlorine anions in internal conduit 808. A second separation stage 800may be used, with internal conduit 808 closer to the negatively chargedsource 804, to then remove the sodium cations from the seawater.Alternatively and/or in addition, a separation stage as shown in FIGS. 6and/or 7, employing capacitive device 702, may be used to separate thechlorine anions and the sodium cations from the incoming fluid inconduit 704 in a single separation stage 700, with reduced amounts ofdissolved sodium chloride flowing through flow 602 and/or stream 2 726.The fluid may be passed through several separation stages 700 and/or 800to further reduce the dissolved sodium chloride in the fluid, such thata final separation stage 700 and/or 800 may produce drinking and/orpotable water from stream 2 726.

FIG. 9 illustrates an electromagnetic funnel in accordance with anaspect of the present disclosure.

Electromagnetic funnel 900 may comprise magnetic device 902, which maybe an inductive coil wrapped around conduit 904. As fluid 906 entersconduit 904, the magnetic field generated by magnetic device 902 createsa force (magnetic field) shown by lines 908 that magnetically movecations and/or anions from fluid 906 toward the center axis of conduit904. As the magnetic lines 908 converge, and depending on the speed offluid 906 flow through conduit 904, internal conduit 910 may be placedsuch that opening 912 of internal conduit 910 intercepts theconcentrated flow of anions and/or cations in fluid 906.

As such, fluid 906 is separated into fluids 914 and 916, where fluid 914flows in internal conduit 910 and fluid 916 flows in conduit 918. Influid 906, cations and anions present in fluid 906 may be randomlydispersed. Because of the field lines 908 in electromagnetic funnel 900,fluid 914 may comprise an increased amount of cations and/or anions overthe random distribution concentration, and fluid 916 may comprise adecreased amount of cations and/or anions below the random distributionconcentration present in fluid 906. Of course, depending on thedirection of the magnetic field lines 908, the cations and/or anions maybe repelled from the central axis of conduit 904, and thus the ionicconcentrations in conduits 910 and 918 may be reversed compared to fieldlines 908 that attract cations and/or anions toward internal conduit 910without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

An electromagnetic funnel 900 in accordance with an aspect of thepresent disclosure may reduce the amount of fluid entering system 100,e.g., fluid 102, such that any processing of subsequent fluid flows insystem 100 only process a portion of fluid 102 while not reducing theamount of ions within fluid 102 that are subjected to processing withinsystem 100. For example, and not by way of limitation, lithium ions maybe dissolved in fluid 906 (or fluid 102) at a concentration of 150 ppm,and fluid 906/102 is entering system 100 at a rate of 600 gpm. Ratherthan attempting to process the entire 600 gpm to attempt to remove the150 ppm of lithium ions, electromagnetic funnel 900 may concentrate thelithium ions present in fluid 102/906 into fluid 914, which may be afraction of the entire 600 gpm entering system 100. If the ratio of thediameters of conduit 904 and internal conduit 914 is 10:1, then internalconduit 914 is only carrying fluid at a rate of 60 gpm. A secondelectromagnetic funnel 900, and/or a series of electromagnetic funnels900, may be placed in series, and/or, as shown in FIG. 2, may be placedin parallel to ensure that as much of the desired ionic material (inthis particular example, lithium) present in fluid 906 as economicallyand/or technically feasible is directed toward a smaller fluid flow,e.g., fluid 914. The remaining fluid 916, as it contains fewer of thedesired ionic materials, may then be directed to bypass system 100rather than process fluid containing either smaller traces of thedesired ionic material and/or none of the desired ionic material influid 906.

There may be limitations on the amount of reduction of fluid to beprocessed in a system 100, which may be based on the amount of desiredmaterial present in fluid 906, the amount of other materials dissolvedin fluid 906, the solubility of one or more other dissolved materials influid 906, pH of fluid 906, temperature of fluid 906, speed of fluid 906flow, and/or other factors. However, electromagnetic funnels 204, 212,and or 900, and/or separation devices 302, 402, 502, 700, and/or 800 mayreduce the fluid 906 that enters system 100 such that system 100 can bereduced in size and/or have fewer design requirements, and may alsoreduce the costs associated with construction, operation, and/ormaintenance of an extraction plant incorporating any portion of system100.

It is to be noted that the electromagnetic funnels 204, 212, and or 900,and/or separation devices 302, 402, 502, 700, and/or 800 are notimmersed in the fluid 906 flow. In an aspect of the present disclosure,the electromagnetic funnels 204, 212, and or 900, and/or separationdevices 302, 402, 502, 700, and/or 800 affect the cations and/or anionsin fluid 906 without disrupting or interfering with the fluid 906flowing in the conduits present in system 100.

The electromagnetic fields generated by electromagnetic funnels 204,212, and or 900, and/or separation devices 302, 402, 502, 700, and/or800 affect the random dispersion of the cations and/or anions that arepresent in fluid 906 (or any fluid that electromagnetic funnels 204,212, and or 900, and/or separation devices 302, 402, 502, 700, and/or800 would be used in proximity to) such that cations and/or anionspresent in the fluid 906 affected by electromagnetic funnels 204, 212,and or 900, and/or separation devices 302, 402, 502, 700, and/or 800 aremoved away from a random distribution and toward a more concentrateddistribution within fluid 906. Once the concentration and/or relativeconcentration of cations and/or anions has been effected byelectromagnetic funnels 204, 212, and or 900, and/or separation devices302, 402, 502, 700, and/or 800, the fluid 906 is separated into two ormore fluids (e.g., fluid 914 and 916) in separate conduits (e.g.,conduits 910 and 918) to isolate and/or concentrate one or more cationsand/or anions of interest in fluid 906.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram in accordance with an aspect of thepresent disclosure.

In comparison with FIG. 1, rather than performing a concentration stage108 as an initial processing stage in system 100, system 1000 comprisesa binary ionic separation stage 116 as an initial processing stage,which may allow for increased reduction in the fluid flow in theremainder of system 1000. Because cations and anions are separated, orat least partially separated by binary ionic separation stage, thepossibility for precipitation of interacting cations and anions withinfluids 118 and/or 120, and any further fluid flows in system 1000, maybe reduced, thus allowing for increased reduction in the processing offluids in one or more stages of system 1000 that are downstream frombinary ionic separation stage 116.

Concentration stage 108 may be coupled directly to binary ionicseparation stage 116, and/or may be employed elsewhere within system1000 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Forexample, and not by way of limitation, concentration stage 108 may becoupled directly to binary ionic separation stage 116 to make groupseparation stages 122/124 more efficient, reduce concentrated fluid 110flow, and/or other reasons. Additionally and/or alternatively, aconcentration stage 108 may be employed between group separation stage122/124 and one or more element separation stages 130A-N and/or 132A-Ndepending on the ions desired as outputs from such separation stages.Many possible configurations of systems 100 and/or 1000 are possiblegiven the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram in accordance with an aspect of thepresent disclosure.

As an example, and not by way of limitation, in an aspect of the presentdisclosure, flow 1100 may be employed within system 100 and/or system1100. Incoming fluid 1102, which may be similar to incoming fluid 102,enters filter 1104. Filtered fluid 1106, which may have someparticulates and/or other constituents filtered out of fluid 1102, maybe passed to binary separator 1108. Binary separator 1108, which may besimilar to those devices described in FIGS. 2-9 of the presentdisclosure, may separate filtered fluid 1106 into fluid 1110 and fluid1112. In an aspect of the present disclosure, fluid 1110 may comprisep-type ions while fluid 1112 may comprise n-type ions.

Fluid 1110 may then be passed to concentrator 1114. Optionally, fluid1112 may be passed to concentrator 1116. In an aspect of the presentdisclosure, some embodiments of system 100/1000 may be applied to removeonly one type of ions or one specific ionic constituent from fluid 1104.If fluid 1110 comprises the desired constituent and/or constituents,then fluid 1112 can bypass processing in system 100/1000 and be coupledto bypass output 1118 of concentrator 1114 as shown by flow 1120. In anaspect of the present disclosure, bypass output 1118 may be conduit 218as shown in FIG. 2; in another aspect of the present disclosure, bypassoutput 1118 may be conduit 202. Other conduit outputs, e.g., conduits312 and/or 316 as shown in FIG. 3, etc., may also be employed as bypassoutput 1118 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to concentrator 1114, concentrated fluid 1122, which maycontain a concentrated distribution of the desired ionic constituentand/or constituents, may be passed to group separator 1124. Groupseparator 1124 may be any of the devices described in FIGS. 2-9 of thepresent disclosure. Group separator 1124 may separate concentrated fluid1122 into fluids 1126 and 1128, and/or additional fluids may be outputfrom group separator as described in FIG. 6. Any number of fluids may beoutput from group separator 1124 without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Fluid 1126 may contain Group A ions as described in FIG. 4, and fluid1128 may comprise Group B elements and/or elements other than Group Aelements as described in FIG. 4. Fluid 1126 may contain the ionicconstituents from fluid 1102 that are desired as outputs from system100/1000; as such, fluid 1128 may be sent to bypass fluid 1118 if suchdesired ionic constituents have been separated from the remainder of theconstituents present in fluid 1102. Otherwise, fluid 1128 may be passedto another group separator 1130, for separation into fluids 1132 and1134. Fluid 1132 may comprise Group B′ ions and may be subject tofurther processing; Fluid 1134 may comprise Group C elements and may besent to another group separator 1136. If fluid 1134 comprises ionicconstituents that are not of interest with respect to the desiredoutputs of system 100/1000, fluid 1134 may be passed to bypass fluid1118.

Group A ions, e.g., those in fluid 1126, may be processed in system100/1000 by passing fluid 1126 to element separator 1138, for separationinto different element outputs 1140-1144. A larger or smaller number ofoutputs 1140-1144 are possible without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. The outputs 1140-1144, either in a single stage ormultiple stages of element separators 1138, may then comprise thedesired ionic constituent of fluid 1102 without significantcontamination from other ionic constituents present in fluid 1102.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, all of outputs 1140-1144, aswell as outputs from element separator(s) 1138 coupled to groupseparators 1130 and/or 1136, as well as bypass 1118, may be outputs fromsystem 100/1000. For example, and not by way of limitation, a fluid 1102may comprise ionic constituents of lithium, potassium, sodium, chlorine,and calcium. System 100/1000 may be configured to separate the lithium,potassium, sodium and calcium cations from the chlorine anions in binaryseparator 1108. The chlorine anions may then be present in fluid 1112,and concentrated in concentrator 1116, and output from system 100/1000as output 1146. The only remaining constituent of fluid 1112 is water,and this may be output from bypass 1148 to bypass output 1150 of system100/1000.

Concentrator 1114 may concentrate the lithium, potassium, sodium andmagnesium cations into fluid 1122, and the bypass fluid 1118 wouldcomprise water, which would be output from bypass fluid 1118 to output1150. Thus, a purified or deionized water output from system 100/1000may be present at output 1150.

Group separator 1124 would then separate the lithium, potassium, andsodium (+1) cations from the calcium (+2) ions in fluid 1122. Thelithium, potassium, and sodium cations may be present in fluid 1126 andthe calcium ions present in fluid 1128. The fluid 1128 can then beoutput from system 100/1000 as the calcium output.

The lithium, potassium, and sodium cations present in fluid 1126 may beseparated by element separator 1138 into output 1140 that compriseslithium, output 1142 that comprises potassium, and output 1144 thatcomprises sodium. Thus, each output of system 100/1000 can be used ifdesired. Of course, if one or more of the outputs are not economicallyfeasible to extract from fluid 1102, or if such outputs may require toomuch further processing in system 100/1000 to extract significantportions, then such outputs may be directed as a “waste”, “recycle”, or“other processing” output from system 100/1000 if desired withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

As can be seen, system 100/1000 can be constructed as a “building block”system to allow for separation and concentration of various fluids toisolate one or more desired ionic constituents from an input fluid 1102.Depending on the presence of other ionic constituents in the inputfluid, how many ionic constituents are desired as outputs from system100/1000, and/or other design considerations, the separators,concentrators, and/or other interconnections may be configured toproduce any desired output from system 100/1000 for the input fluid1102.

FIG. 12 illustrates a combiner in accordance with an aspect of thepresent disclosure.

Combiner 1200 may be used at any point within system 100/1000. In anaspect of the present disclosure, incoming fluid 1202 and incoming fluid1204 flow into combiner 1200 in conduits 1206 and 1208, respectively.Incoming fluids 1202/1204 may be any fluid flows described in FIGS. 1-11without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

For example, and not by way of limitation, fluid 1202 may be a fluidthat has been elementally separated, e.g., comprising lithium cations,and fluid 1204 may be a fluid comprising n-type ions (anions). Becausethe volume of fluids 1202 and 1204 may be large and/or larger than thesaturation point for the concentration of lithium with the anionicconstituents of fluid 1204, the lithium may remain ionic and notprecipitate from the combined fluids 1202/1204, shown as fluid 1210 inconduit 1212.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, fluid 1210 may be exposed to anelectromagnetic field by combiner 1214 such that the ionic components offluid 1202 and the ionic components of fluid 1204 are concentrated bythe combiner 1214. The increased concentration of the ionic componentsin fluid 1210 are then captured in conduit 1216 as fluid 1218, which mayallow for the ionic components to achieve partial and/or completesaturation in fluid 1218. By controlling the strength of the magneticfield, and/or selecting the volume of conduit 1216, and/or otherfactors, precipitation of various compounds may be possible in an aspectof the present disclosure.

The remaining fluid 1220 can be diverted toward another output of system100/1000, and/or may be recycled through system 100/1000, and/or may besent to another separator/concentrator/combiner stage within system100/1000 as desired. Many possible configurations of combiner 1200 arepossible within system 100/1000 without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. Further, combiner 1200 may be configured to be anyof the devices described in FIGS. 2-9 without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure; for example, one combiner 1200 in system100/1000 may be an inductive device 902, while another combiner 1200 maybe a capacitive device 702 without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates an electromagnetic recirculator in accordance withan aspect of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 13, recirculator 1300 may comprise inductor 1302 andinductor 1304. Inductors 1302 and 1304 are wound around a common core1306, which may be one or more of the conduits described with respect toFIGS. 2-9. Power source 1308, which may be an alternating current (AC)source, a direct current (DC) source, and/or any other type of powersource that can generate a current 1310 in inductor 1302.

When current 1310 is flowing in inductor 1302, a magnetic field isgenerated around coil 1302. Some of the magnetic field generated byinductor 1302 will affect any materials in core 1306, such as any fluid1312 flowing in core 1306. Further, some of the magnetic field (alsoreferred to as “magnetic flux”) generated by inductor 1302 may passthrough inductor 1304, which may induce a current 1314 in coil 1304.

The current 1310 flowing in inductor 1302 “mutually induces” a voltageand current 1314 to flow in inductor 1304. This coupling betweeninductors 1302 and 1304 is known as “mutual inductance.” The amount ofmutual inductance that links inductor 1302 to inductor 1304 may dependson the relative positioning of the inductors 1302 and 1304. If inductor1302 is positioned a small physical distance apart from inductor 1304,then nearly all of the magnetic flux generated by inductor 1302 willinteract with the inductor 1304 inducing a relatively large voltageand/or current 1314 across inductor 1304. Such a close coupling betweeninductors 1302 and 1304 may be referred to as a large mutual inductancevalue.

The effect of mutual inductance is very much dependent upon the relativespacing 1316 of the two inductors 1302 and 1304. The mutual inductancethat exists between the two inductors 1302 and 1304 can be changed bythe spacing 1316, the number of turns in inductors 1302 and/or 1304, thematerial of core 1306, the constituents of fluid 1312, and/or otherfactors.

For example, and not by way of limitation, if the two inductors 1302 and1304 are tightly wound one on top of the other over a common soft ironcore 1306, losses due to the magnetic flux generated by inductor 1302that do not pass through inductor 1304 will be reduced. If all of themagnetic flux passes through (or is “linked”) between inductors 1302 and1304, “unity coupling” may be said to exist between inductors 1302 and1304.

The coupling between inductors 1302 and 1304 in a unity couplingembodiment may be determined by:

$M = \frac{\mu \; 0\; \mu \; {rN}\; 1\; N\; 2\; A}{l}$

Where:

μo to is the permeability of free space (4.π.10-7)

μr is the relative permeability of core 1306 (including the permeabilityof fluid 1312)

N is in the number of turns in each inductor 1302 and 1304

A is in the cross-sectional area 1318 of core 1306 in m2

l is the inductor 1302 and 1304 length in meters

However, the above equation assumes zero flux leakage and 100% magneticcoupling between the two inductors 1302 and 1304. In reality there willalways be some loss of magnetic flux due to leakage and position. Ifsome of the total magnetic flux links between the two inductors 1302 and1304, this amount of flux linkage can be defined as a fraction of thetotal possible flux linkage between the coils. This fractional value iscalled the coefficient of coupling and is given the letter k.

Generally, the amount of inductive coupling that exists between the twoinductors 1302 and 1304 is expressed as a fractional number between 0and 1 instead of a percentage (%) value, where 0 indicates zero or noinductive coupling, and 1 indicating full or maximum inductive coupling.In other words, if k=1 the two inductors 1302 and 1304 are perfectlycoupled, if k>0.5 the two inductors 1302 and 1304 are said to be tightlycoupled and if k<0.5 the two inductors 1302 and 1304 are said to beloosely coupled.

Regardless of the amount of coupling between inductors 1302 and 1304,some amount of current 1314 and voltage will be present on inductor 1304when inductor 1302 has current 1310 flowing. Thus, when inductor 1302 isbeing energized as, for example, an electromagnetic concentrator asdescribed herein, the magnetic flux can also be used to generate acurrent 1314 that can be passed to recirculator 1320.

Recirculator 1320 may then process the current 1314 in such a way thatcurrent 1314 can be forwarded to a storage module (e.g., a battery) viaoutput 1322, such that output 1312 can be used to provide primary and/orbackup power to power source 1308. Further, current 1314 may beprocessed and/or conditioned such that output 1322 may be used toprovide power to the power grid, similar to how solar panels providepower to the power grid in homes and businesses. For example, and not byway of limitation, power source 1308 may be 115 VAC power from a utilitycompany (via the power grid) that is supplied to recirculator 1300 toenergize coil 1302. Output 1322 would return some of the power beingused by recirculator 1300 to the power grid, which may reduce the costof electrical power used by recirculator 1320.

Further, the flow of fluid 1312 may induce an electrical current in bothinductor 1302 and 1304, as the ionic constituents of fluid 1312, whicheach have their own magnetic fields (based on the electric field eachionic constituent comprises) may affect the magnetic field withininductors 1302 and/or 1304. As such, losses in the coupling betweeninductors 1302 and 1304 may be reduced and/or additional power may besupplied to output 1322.

Recirculator 1320 may be an inverter, a transformer, or other electronicdevice and/or devices, such that the output 1322 provides a desiredoutput of voltage and/or electrical current. Further, the number ofturns in either or both of inductors 1302/1304 can be altered to deliverthe desired magnetic flux for concentration of fluid 1312 as describedin FIGS. 2-9, the desired mutual inductance between inductors 1302 and1304, and/or for other purposes without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Further, the flow of fluid 1312, when fluid 1312 is an ionic fluid, mayinduce current in one or more of inductors 1302/1304 without any mutualinductance between inductors 1302 and 1304. For example, and not by wayof limitation, when fluid 1312 comprises n-type ions 118 in conduit 312,passing n-type ions 118 through inductor 1302 and/or 1304 (when suchinductor 1302 or 1304 surrounds conduit 312) may induce an electricalcurrent in inductor 1302 or 1304. Many locations for inductors 1302 or1304 within system 100/1000, whether or not mutual inductance existsbetween inductors 1302 and 1304, are possible without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of a hardware environment inaccordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a hardwareenvironment in an aspect of the present disclosure. A computer system1400 may employ a computer 1402, which may comprise a central processingunit (CPU) 1404, a memory 1406, and a program 1408. The computer 1402may be coupled to network 1410, which may be coupled to server 1412and/or memory 1414, for communication between computer 1402 and othercomputers 1402 coupled to network 1410, storage of program 1408 onmemory 1414, and/or other uses and/or functions of a distributedcommunications network. Network 1410 may comprise, for example, theinternet, Local Area Networks (LANs) Wide Area Networks (WANs), etc., toconnect computers 1402 executing, for example, a computer program 1408that selectively energizes the devices described with respect to FIGS. 2through 9 such that the fluids described herein may be separated and/orcombined as described in various aspects of the present disclosure.Computer 1402 may be a personal computer or work station connected viathe Internet 1410 to server computer 1412, other computers 1402,workstations, mini computers, or mainframes.

Computer 1402 may comprise one or more CPUs 1404, various amounts ofmemory 1406, which may be Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory(ROM), cache memory, and/or other types of memory that may store one ormore computer programs 1408 that may partially and/or fully operatesystem 100/1000 via connection 1416 with or without inputs from inputdevices 1418 (e.g., keyboard, computer mouse, etc.). Other programs1408, such as a web browsing program for accessing information over theInternet, operating systems, etc., may also be stored in memory 1406.Further, computer 1402 and the server computer 1412 may include one ormore monitors, display devices, fixed and/or removable data storagedevices such as hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, thumb drives,CD-ROM drives, etc.

The computer programs 1408 that may implement one or more functions ofthe present disclosure are tangibly embodied in a computer-readablemedium, e.g., one or more of the fixed and/or removable data storagedevices and/or memories 1406/1414 attached to the computer 1402/server1414. The program(s) 1408 comprises instructions which, when run andexecuted by the computer 1402, causes the computer 1402 to perform stepsthat execute the steps or elements of the present disclosure. Generally,these components comprise logic and/or data that is embodied in orretrievable from device, medium, signal, or carrier, e.g., a datastorage device, a data communications device, a remote computer ordevice coupled to the computer across a network or via another datacommunications device, etc. Moreover, this logic and/or data, when read,executed, and/or interpreted, results in the steps necessary toimplement and/or use the present invention being performed.

Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented as a method,apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/orengineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or anycombination thereof. The term “article of manufacture” (oralternatively, “computer program product”) as used herein is intended toencompass logic and/or data accessible from any computer-readabledevice, carrier, or media.

It can be seen that many modifications may be made to the hardwareenvironment of FIG. 14 without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. For example, and not by way of limitation, any combinationof the above components, or any number of different components,including different logic, data, different peripherals, and differentdevices, may be used to implement the present disclosure, so long assimilar functions are performed thereby. Wireless communicationsnetworks may also be employed with the environment of FIG. 14 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

Data recorded in the memory 1406, memory 1414, and or program 1408 mayspecify logic configurations, pattern data, voltages and/or currents foroperating devices within system 100/1000, and/or other data. The datamay further include logic verification data such as timing diagrams orfeedback comparisons for sensors placed within system 100/1000.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. A machine-readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes may bestored in a memory and executed by a processor unit. Memory 1406 may beimplemented within the processor unit 1404 or external to the processorunit 1404. As used herein, the term “memory” refers to types of longterm, short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or other memory and is not tobe limited to a particular type of memory or number of memories, or typeof media upon which memory is stored.

If implemented in firmware and/or software, the functions may be storedas one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium.Examples include computer-readable media encoded with a data structureand computer-readable media encoded with a computer program.Computer-readable media includes physical computer storage media. Astorage medium may be an available medium that can be accessed by acomputer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readablemedia can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, orother medium that can be used to store desired program code in the formof instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by acomputer; disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD),laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk andBlu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, whilediscs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of an electromagnetic fluid separationdevice in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

Device 1500 allows fluid 1501 to enter at an input conduit 1502 thatdivides (or “tees”) into conduit 1504 and conduit 1506. Input conduit1502 can divide into more than two conduits 1504 and 1506 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

Conduit 1504 has a section 1508, and conduit 1506 has a section 1510, inwhich the ions (shown as dipoles 1512) are randomly oriented as dipoles1512 would be oriented in a fluid flowing in a conduit without anyapplication of an electromagnetic field. Although ions are considered“dissolved” in solution, ions may act as dipoles in solution when anelectromagnetic field is applied.

Similar to the actions of the devices shown in FIGS. 2-7, 9, 12, and 13,device 1500 can concentrate ions through the use of electromagneticfields. Conduit 1504 has a section 1514 with an electromagnetic fieldgenerating device 1516, and conduit 1506 has a section 1518 with anelectromagnetic field generating device 1520. Within sections 1514 and1516, the dipoles 1512 are aligned in a certain orientation based on theelectromagnetic field generated by electromagnetic field generatingdevices 1516 and 1520.

For example, and not by way of limitation, if electromagnetic fieldgenerating devices 1516 and 1520 are inductive devices, e.g., coils ofwire wrapped around sections 1514 and 1518, then a magnetic field willbe generated affecting sections 1514 and 1518. By wrapping wires aroundthe sections in a certain direction (i.e., clockwise,counter-clockwise), the magnetic field can be directed to have thepositive end of the dipoles 1512 point in the direction of fluid flow inconduits 1504 and 1506, respectively. The magnetic field direction insection 1514 is shown by arrow 1522, and the magnetic field direction insection 1518 is shown by arrow 1524. For convenience, the arrow head onfield direction arrows indicates “positive” or “north”, although device1500 can operate if the arrow direction indicates another directionwithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. If theelectromagnetic field generating devices 1516 and 1520 are capacitive innature, the dipoles would be oriented vertically instead of horizontallyas shown in FIG. 15.

Once the dipoles 1512 are aligned in sections 1514 and 1518, theconduits 1504 and 1506 merge into an intersection 1527, and conduits1530 and 1532 emerge as outputs from intersection 1527. Additionaloutputs may emerge from intersection 1527 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

Conduit 1530 has another electromagnetic field generating device 1534that has a direction of the field (for inductor-type electromagneticfield generating devices) pointing away from intersection 1527 (as shownby arrow 1536), while conduit 1532 has an electromagnetic fieldgenerating device 1538 that has a direction of the field (forinductor-type electromagnetic field generating devices) pointing towardintersection 1527 (as shown by arrow 1540). Because the dipoles 1512 arealigned with the positive ends of the dipole pointing into theintersection, the electromagnetic field generated by electromagneticfield generator 1538 resists the flow of ions (dipoles 1512) intoconduit 1532, similar to the two like poles of a magnet resist eachother. However, conduit 1530 has an electromagnetic field that inducesor attracts the ions (dipoles 1512) into conduit 1530.

By controlling the flow of fluid that enters device 1500 through inputconduit 1502, and the output flow rates of conduits 1530 and 1532 (shownas output fluids 1542 and 1544), and by creating appropriate opposingand attracting electromagnetic fields with electromagnetic fieldgenerators 1516, 1520, 1534, and 1538, the concentration of ions in thefluid flowing in device 1500 may be increased in the output of device1500 at conduit 1530 (as fluid 1542), and the concentration of ions inthe fluid flowing in device 1500 may be decreased in the output ofdevice 1500 at conduit 1532 (as output 1544). In other words, selectionand/or control of the fluid flow and/or strength of the fields generatedin device 1500 may allow the generated electromagnetic fields to reducethe concentration of the ions in the fluid flowing from conduit 1532 (asoutput 1544).

In an aspect of the present disclosure, output 1542, the concentratedoutput of device 1500, may be the desired output, as a concentratedionic fluid may be desired. In another aspect of the present disclosure,output 1544, the diluted output of device 1500, may be the desiredoutput, as a diluted ionic fluid may be desired. In another aspect ofthe present disclosure, both outputs 1542 and 1544 may be the desiredoutputs, as both a concentrated and a diluted output are desired. Manypossibilities of outputs (conduits 1530 and 1532), divisions (intovarious conduits from input 1502) and/or intersections 1527 (to createeven more outputs from device 1500), are possible within the scope ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of an electromagnetic fluid separationdevice in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 16, power source 1600 may be coupled to electromagneticfield generating devices 1516, 1520, 1534, and 1538 (and/or otherelectromagnetic field generating devices described herein) to produceelectromagnetic fields in the various conduits of devices shown in thepresent disclosure. To produce electromagnetic fields that provide aidin directing ions dissolved in fluids and/or resist ions from flowinginto various conduits in the separation devices, a possible connectionscheme is shown in FIG. 16. Positive voltage terminal 1602 is connectedto the electrodes closest to the intersection of the conduits for threeof the electromagnetic field generating devices 1516, 1520, and 1538,while the positive terminal is connected to the electrode farther awayfrom the intersection for electromagnetic field generating device 1534.Negative voltage terminal 1604 is connected to the electrodes farthestfrom the intersection of the conduits for three of the electromagneticfield generating devices 1516, 1520, and 1538, while the negativeterminal 1604 is connected to the electrode closer to the intersectionfor electromagnetic field generating device 1534.

If electromagnetic field generating devices 1516, 1520, 1534, and 1538are clockwise-wound inductors, such a connection scheme as shown in FIG.16 may allow dissolved ions to flow toward electromagnetic fieldgenerating device 1534, while resisting the flow of dissolved ionstoward electromagnetic field generating device 1538 as shown in FIG. 15.Other connection schemes are possible without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

Power source 1600 may be one or more devices, such as a battery,solar-cell charged battery, alternating current (AC) power supply,rectified AC power supply, etc., without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Advantages Provided By Embodiments of The Present Disclosure

The present disclosure describes a technological problem that has notbeen solved in conventional industry practice. Conventional industrypractice may use, for example, additive chemical solutions to fluidsdescribed in the present disclosure to remove and/or combine variousfluid constituents. Other approaches may use electrolysis which requireselectrical current to flow through the various fluids described herein.The aspect and/or aspects of the present disclosure described hereindoes not suffer from these deficiencies, and thus provides analternative, perhaps less expensive and/or less time-consuming solutionto the technological problem of combination and/or removal of variousionic compounds from fluids.

Further, the aspects described in the present disclosure are things thatthe chemical industry has not been able to obtain. The chemicalprocessing industry has not used electromagnetic fields to separateionic compounds dissolved in fluids; instead, the chemical processingindustry uses chemical additives. The use of electromagnetic fields hasnot been used, employed, taught, or suggested by the current literature.

The methods, steps, devices, and techniques of the present disclosure,when implemented through the use of a computer as described in FIG. 14,are not steps previously known and merely implemented on a computer.Instead, the aspects of the present disclosure feature not onlyimprovements on technological processes (i.e., the removal and/orcombination of ionic constituents in a fluid), the present disclosureprovides entirely new methods, devices, and techniques for technologicalprocesses that have not been conceived and/or taught in the context ofchemical processing.

Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been describedin detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutionsand alterations can be made herein without departing from the technologyof the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example,relational terms, such as “above” and “below” are used with respect to asubstrate or electronic device. Of course, if the substrate orelectronic device is inverted, above becomes below, and vice versa.Additionally, if oriented sideways, above and below may refer to sidesof a substrate or electronic device. Moreover, the scope of the presentapplication is not intended to be limited to the particularconfigurations of the process, machine, manufacture, composition ofmatter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As oneof ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developedthat perform substantially the same function or achieve substantiallythe same result as the corresponding configurations described herein maybe utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, theappended claims are intended to include within their scope suchprocesses, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,methods, or steps.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the disclosure herein may be implemented as electronichardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearlyillustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, variousillustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have beendescribed above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether suchfunctionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such implementationdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the present disclosure.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performedwith a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablegate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. Ageneral-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or moremicroprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with thedisclosure may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software moduleexecuted by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A softwaremodule may reside in RAM, flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers,hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storagemedium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to theprocessor such that the processor can read information from, and writeinformation to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storagemedium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storagemedium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. Inthe alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside asdiscrete components in a user terminal.

In one or more exemplary designs, the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computerstorage media and communication media including any medium thatfacilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Astorage media may be any available media that can be accessed by ageneral purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carryor store specified program code means in the form of instructions ordata structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose orspecial-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purposeprocessor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readablemedium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website,server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable,twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologiessuch as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiberoptic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such asinfrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium.Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc,optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray discwhere disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproducedata optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also beincluded within the scope of computer-readable media.

The previous description of the disclosure is provided to enable anyperson skilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Variousmodifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may beapplied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scopeof the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited tothe examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded thewidest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosedherein.

Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been describedin detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutionsand alterations can be made herein without departing from the technologyof the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example,relational terms, such as “above” and “below” are used with respect to aview of the device as shown in the present disclosure. Of course, if thedevice is inverted, above becomes below, and vice versa. Additionally,if oriented sideways, above and below may refer to sides of a device.Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to belimited to the particular configurations of the process, machine,manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps describedin the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the correspondingconfigurations described herein may be utilized according to the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to includewithin their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositionsof matter, means, methods, or steps.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, and algorithm steps described in connectionwith the disclosure herein may be implemented as various different typesof materials and/or various different combinations of materials. Toclearly illustrate this interchangeability, various illustrativecomponents, blocks, modules, and steps have been described abovegenerally in terms of their functionality. The various materials and/orcombinations of materials employed to implement the present disclosuredepends upon the particular application and design constraints imposedon the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the describedfunctionality in varying ways for each particular application, but suchimplementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present disclosure.

The description of the disclosure is provided to enable any personskilled in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modificationsto the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art,and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to othervariations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples anddesigns described herein but is to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposesof illustration, various modifications may be made without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, thedisclosure is not to be limited by the examples presented herein, but isenvisioned as encompassing the scope described in the appended claimsand the full range of equivalents of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid control device, comprising: an outerconduit having a first inlet and a first outlet; an inner conduit,internal to the outer conduit, having a second inlet which is internalto the outer conduit and a second outlet distinct from the first outletand in parallel with the first outlet; and an electromagnetic fieldgenerating device, externally coupled to the outer conduit, in which theelectromagnetic field generating device creates an electromagnetic fieldwithin the outer conduit and proximate at least a portion of the innerconduit that includes the second inlet, such that ions within a fluidflowing into the first inlet in the outer conduit toward the secondinlet and toward the first outlet and second outlet are affected by theelectromagnetic field.
 2. The fluid control device of claim 1, in whicha flow of the fluid in the outer conduit moves the ions in the fluidtoward the second inlet.
 3. The fluid control device of claim 1, inwhich the electromagnetic field generating device is a coiled wire, suchthat the coiled wire is coiled around an outside of the outer conduit.4. The fluid control device of claim 3, in which the coiled wire iselectrically insulated from the outer conduit.
 5. The fluid controldevice of claim 3, in which the second inlet encompasses an axial centerof the coiled wire.
 6. The fluid control device of claim 5, in which thesecond inlet is located between a first turn of the coiled wire that iscoiled around the outside of the outer conduit and a last turn of thecoiled wire that is coiled around the outside of the first outerconduit.
 7. The fluid control device of claim 1, in which theelectromagnetic field generating device is a capacitive device coupledaround an outside of the outer conduit.
 8. The fluid control device ofclaim 7, in which the capacitive device is electrically insulated fromthe outer conduit.
 9. The fluid control device of claim 7, in which thesecond inlet encompasses an axial portion of the capacitive device. 10.The fluid control device of claim 7, in which the second inlet islocated between a first plate of the capacitive device that is coupledaround the outside of the outer conduit and a second plate of thecapacitive device that is coupled around the outside of the outerconduit.
 11. A method for selectively moving ions in a fluid,comprising: flowing the fluid in a first conduit having a first outlet;simultaneously flowing the fluid in a second conduit, where the secondconduit is internal to the first conduit, the second conduit having asecond inlet and a second outlet in parallel with the first outlet;exposing the fluid flowing in the first conduit to an electromagneticfield, wherein the electromagnetic field is generated external to thefirst conduit; and arranging the electromagnetic field with respect tothe first conduit and the second conduit such that a first concentrationof the ions in the fluid flowing from the first outlet is less than asecond concentration of the ions in the fluid flowing from the secondoutlet.
 12. The method of claim 11, in which a flow of the fluid in theouter conduit moves the ions in the fluid toward the second inlet. 13.The method of claim 11, in which the electromagnetic field generatingdevice is a coiled wire, such that the coiled wire is coiled around anoutside of the outer conduit.
 14. The method of claim 11, in which thesecond inlet encompasses an axial center of the coiled wire.
 15. A fluidcontrol device, comprising: an inlet conduit dividing into at least afirst inlet and a second inlet, such that a fluid introduced into theinlet conduit is divided into at least the first inlet and the secondinlet; an intersecting conduit, in which the intersecting conduitreceives the fluid flowing in the first inlet and the second inlet, theintersecting conduit having at least a first outlet and a second outlet;a first electromagnetic field generating device coupled to the firstinlet; a second electromagnetic field generating device coupled to thesecond inlet; a third electromagnetic field generating device coupled tothe first outlet; and a fourth electromagnetic field generating devicecoupled to the second outlet; in which electromagnetic fields generatedby the first electromagnetic field generating device, the secondelectromagnetic field generating device, the third electromagnetic fieldgenerating device, and the fourth electromagnetic field generatingdevice are arranged such that a first concentration of ions in a fluidflowing from the first outlet is less than a second concentration of theions in a fluid flowing from the second outlet.
 16. The fluid controldevice of claim 15, in which the first electromagnetic field generatingdevice, the second electromagnetic field generating device, the thirdelectromagnetic field generating device, and the fourth electromagneticfield generating device are coiled wires.
 17. The fluid control deviceof claim 15, in which a fluid flow through the fluid control device isselected to allow the generated magnetic fields to reduce theconcentration of the ions in the fluid flowing from the second outlet.18. The fluid control device of claim 15, further comprising a powersource, coupled to at least one of the first electromagnetic fieldgenerating device, the second electromagnetic field generating device,the third electromagnetic field generating device, and the fourthelectromagnetic field generating device, to generate electromagneticfields within the fluid control device.